Springdale, AR-The Arkansas Travelers were denied a chance to clinch a 1st half division championship on Sunday as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals won 4-3 on a walk-off hit by Erick Mejia with two out in the bottom of the ninth. The loss pushes the division race to the 70th and
Springdale, AR-The Arkansas Travelers were denied a chance to clinch a 1st half division championship on Sunday as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals won 4-3 on a walk-off hit by Erick Mejia with two out in the bottom of the ninth. The loss pushes the division race to the 70th and final day of the first half tomorrow night. The Travs had a brief one-run lead early in the game but never led again after NW Arkansas scored twice in the fourth inning. Arkansas rallied to tie twice including in the top of the ninth inning after they were down to their final strike. Three teams are still alive in the divisional race as Tulsa won today and remains tied with the Naturals, just one game back of the Travs.
Moments That Mattered
* Chuck Taylor roped a two-out RBI double in the third to put the Travs on top.
* After NW Arkansas took the lead in the fourth, Chase De Jong caught a popped up bunt and doubled the runner off second to keep the Naturals from a bigger inning.
* Chris Mariscal tied the game in the sixth with an RBI double but the Travs missed the chance to take the lead despite having runners at second and third with one out.
* Nicky Lopez hit his first homer of a season to break a tie in the eighth.
* Down to their final strike, Chuck Taylor worked to a 3-2 count in the ninth. Yonathan Mendoza, running from first on the 3-2 pitch, then scored on Taylor's single to right-center field to tie the game.
* The Naturals promptly put runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the ninth but the Travs were able to nail a runner at the plate for the second out of the inning. It wouldn't matter though as the next hitter, Erick Mejia hit a ground ball single into left field to end it.
Notable Travs Performances
* LF Chuck Taylor: 2-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI
* 1B Joey Curletta: 3-5, run
* SS Yonathan Mendoza: 2-3, BB, run
* Chase De Jong: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, BB, 3 K
Up Next
The Travs will again try to win the first half division title on the final day of the half Monday night. RH Nathan Bannister (4-5, 5.70) takes the hill for the Travs against RH Scott Blewett (4-4, 5.40) for the Naturals. First pitch from Springdale is set for 7:05 and the game will be broadcast on the Sports Animal 920, the First Pitch App, TuneIn radio and milb.tv.
